Control for weft replenishing loom



Oct. 18, 1955 P. A. NIMS CONTROL FOR WEFT REPLENISHING LOOM Filed Feb. ll, 1954 INVENTORl PHILLIP A. NIMS AW fr MM ATTORNEY CNTRL FUR WEFT REPLENISHING LOOM Philip A. Nims, Worcester,

& Knowles Loom Works, tion of Massachusetts Application February 11, 1954, Serial No. 409,566 11 Claims. (Cl. 139-3366) Mass., assigner to Crompton Worcester, Mass., a corpora- This invention relates to improvements in control means for weft replenishing looms wherein a weft detector can initiate a weft replenishing operation if the shuttle is properly boxed or can cooperate with a shuttle position detector to stop the loom if the shuttle is improperly boxed.

Certain types of weft replenishing looms, such for instance as those used for pick and pick filling or weft mixing, utilize shifting shuttle boxes at both ends of the loom, the boxes at the reserve bobbin magazine end rising to lift a shuttle in the top box up to a high position where it can be replenished by a bobbin in the magazine. In such looms a shuttle which is moved upwardly remains out of action for two picks or beats of the lay and the weft detector performs its function during the first of these beats when the shuttle boxes are rising and the replenishing operation occurs during the second beat while the shuttle boxes are still raised, both the weft detecting and replenishing operations ordinarily occurring although not necessarily when the lay is on front center. The shuttle is therefore in a box from the time the weft detector calls for a bobbin change until replenishment occurs; When entering a shuttle box a shuttle may rebound sufficiently to be in improper position for the replenishing operation, but the detector will ordinarily be able to perform its function so that it can initiate a replenishing operation when the shuttle is not properly placed for such an op` eration.

lt is an important object of the present invention to provide a shuttle position detector or feeler which will permit a replenishing operation to follow indication of weft exhaustion by the weft detector provided the shuttle is properly positioned but will prevent the weft feeler from initiating the replenishing operation if the shuttle is improperly placed.

. It is a further object of the invention to provide electric means for controlling the loom including two circuits which are jointly controlled by the weft and shuttle detectors, one of these circuits being closable to effect weft replenishment in the event the depleted shuttle is correctly placed and the other being closed to effect loom stoppage in the event the depleted shuttle is improperly positioned.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a loom control wherein misplacement of the shuttle will not effect loom stoppage unless the weft detector engages a depleted supply of weft and would be able to initiate a replenishing operation if the shuttle were properly positioned.

The invention to be set forth hereinafter shows two feeler mechanisms, one for the weft in the shuttle and the other for the position of the shuttle, so related that the weft feeler must have a movement corresponding to indication of weft exhaustion before weft replenishment or loom stoppage can result, and wherein the shuttle position feeler determines which of these two operations shall occur before the weft detector can indicate exhaustion of weft.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a deice tecting unit including the weft and shuttle detectors and their switches mounted on a common carrier which can be mounted for rising and falling motion in unison with the shuttle boxes.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood reference is made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate by way of example the embodiments of the invention and in which:

Fig. l is a plan view partly in section of part of a loomhaving the invention applied thereto and shows the lay approaching front center with a depleted supply of weft and with the shuttle properly placed for a weft replenishing operation,

Fig. 2 is a detailed side elevation looking in the direction of arrow 2, Fig. l, showing the detecting unit,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section online 3-3, Fig. l, Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan View of the weft detector with the cover therefor removed,

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are fragmentary diagrammatic views showing the weft and shuttle feelers in different positions with respect to the shuttle,

Fig. 8 is a detailed vertical section on line 8-8, Fig. l, and

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic View of electric circuit means employed with the invention.

Referring particularly to Fig. l, the breast beam 1 of the loom frame supports the foot 2 of a weft replenishing mechanism preferably though not necessarily of the multicolor type and not otherwise illustrated herein. The lay 3 swings backwardly and forwardly in usual manner and is provided in the present instance with vertically shifting shuttle boxes B the upper of which is indicated at 4 and as shown in Fig. 5 contains a shuttle S having a bobbin 5 for the weft supply. The shuttle box is provided with a binder 6 having a slot 7 therein which will register with a slot 8 in the front wall F of the shuttle if the latter is properly boxed. The shuttle box B is provided with a bunter 9 which cooperates with the weft replenishing mechanism to effect bobbin transfer when a replenishing operation occurs. This operation is initiated by a weft detector designated generally at WD.

A stand 10 fixed on the loom has a guide 11 secured thereto at 12 and a slide 13 is mounted for vertical sliding in the guide. A plate 14 secured to the rear of the guide assists in holding the slide 13 in correct position. The bottom of the slide has an ear 15 which is pivotally con nected to the upper end of a rod 16 which extends downwardly to some part of the shifting shuttle mechanism (not shown) so that the slide rises and falls: as the shuttle boxes B shift upwardly and downwardly with respect to the lay 3.

The slide has a detector carrier 17 secured thereto at 18 and the weft detector WD is secured to the carrier by a bolt 19. The weft detector, shown in Fig. 4, comprises a base 20 over which extends a cover 21 and in which is slidably mounted for side slipping movement a detector linger 22 which may be of a well-known type held yieldingly in rear position against stops 23 and 24 by a spring 25. A weft detector electric switch WS comprises two electric contacts 26 and 27 insulated from each other and normally spaced apart but so arranged that when the detector nger 22 moves angularly to the right from the position shown in full lines in Fig. 4 the two contacts 26 and 27 will be brought into electric engagement with each other so that they will electrically connect wires 28 and 29 connected respectively to the contacts.

The detector finger 22 has the usual form of tip 30 for engagement with weft onthe bobbin 5 and when ample weft is present the tip will be pushed forwardly without angular motion as the lay advances, but if the weft is de-,

tip will be deflected 'to the 'right as suggested in either Fig. 5 or 7 'and close switch WS.

Forming a part of the weft replenishing mechanism is a setting lever 35 which floats on a block 36 reciprocating vertically in 'a guidep37 which may be 'p art 'of the stand 10. The left eridof lever is connected to an upwardly extending rod indicated at 38 which i's attached tol 'certain parts (not shown) of the weft freplenishi'ng mechanism. F`the rightharid Iend of lever 35 extends through a slot 40 formed iny an' upright ho'rn 41 which may also be part of the stand 10. A fixed pin 42 in the horn extends over the lever 35 and a movable pin 43 is 'slidable horizontally in the horn below the lever but is normally out of its path so that the right end of the lever 35 can descend without interruption. n t e,

The pin 43 is controlled by a solenoid 44 normallydeenergized so that a spring 45 can hold the pin 43 in normal forward lnonindicating' position out of the path of the lever 35, as indicated in Fig. 9. The solenoid may be mounted on the stand and when energized will have the effect of moving the pin 43 rearwardly t'o indicating position under the right end of lever 35, whereupon a weft replenishing operation will be initiated. i

The loom has stopping mechanism shown in Fig. 9 including a cam'50 which rotates constantly during loom operation to rock a lever 51 on a working stroke at periodic intervals in a left hand direction, preferably each beat of the loorn. A solenoid 52 normally deenergized has a core 53 supporting a link 54 which is pivoted to a knockoif lever 55. The latter is connected by a rod 56 to a shipper handle SS which controls closure of a switch 57. When the loom is running the shipper handle will be 'in such position asyto close switch 57 and the link 54 will be down in the full line position shown in Fig. 9 due to deenergization 'of the solenoid 52. If the solenoid is energized it will lift the link to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 9 and upon the next working stroke of lever 51 the shipper handle SS will be rocked to` the right to' effect both loom stoppage and also opening of the switch 57.

Energization of the solenoid is effected by means of a normally deenergized relay 60 which controls an electric conducting armature 61 normally spaced from a Contact 62 connected electrically to the solenoid 52, but when the relay is energized the armature 61 is moved into engage,-

ment with the contact 62, The parts thus far described,

except as noted hereinafter, may be similar to correspending mechanisms already in use.

In carrying the invention into elfect there is provided a shuttle position detector SD includindg a slide rod 65 mounted for back and forth sliding movement in front l and backbearings 66 and 67, respectively, formed on the carrier V17. Y AA compression spring 68 between the bearings` 66 and 67 exerts a rearward force against a pin or the like 69 on rod 65 to hold the latter normally in rear position.

A switch 75 is secured to the carrier 17 and has pivoted thereto a control arm 76 over a plunger 77 in the switch 75. The latter has an electric conducting spring blade 78 and two electric contacts 79 and 80. The blade 78 and contacts 79 and 80 are electrically connected respece tively to wires 81, 82 and 83, see Fig. 3. Ordinarily the spring blade 78 is in raised position against contact 79 as shown in Fig. 3 and acts through the plunger 77 to hold the arm 76 in raised position. When the rod 65 is in rear position the switch 75 will be in the position shown in Fig. 3, but if the rod 65 is moved forwardly it will depress arm 76 and act through the plunger to move blade 78 away from contact 79 and into engagement with contact 80.

In operation of the loom, the lay 3 will swing backwardly and forwardly away from and toward the detectors WD and SD and on certain beats of the loom the shuttle box:v B will bev down so that the shuttle S can enter the top box or cell 4, after which the box 4 andV both det'ee'ters WD eineV SD win rise. I-f the shuttle is cor-f 4 rectly positioned as indicated in Fig. l and suicient weft is present for continued weaving the feeler finger 22 will move forwardly without side motion and the contacts 26 and 27 will remain separated, and also the rod 65 will remain in rear position so that blade 78 can remain in engagement with contact 79. If, on the other hand, Weft is depleted as indicated in Fig. l the weft detector will then have a side slipping indicating movement to the position shown in Fig. 5 t'o 'cause engagement of the contacts 26 and 27, whereupon, referring to Fig. 9, the fol lowing initiating or setting :circuit will be closed: Secondary SW of the transformer T, wire 29, contacts 27 and 26, wire 28, wire 81 ,`blade 78, lContact 79, wire 82, spolenoid 44, wires v84 and 85, switch 57, and wire 86 back to the opposite side of the secondary SW. Energization of this circuit will cause the solenoid 44 to move the control pin 43 rearwardly under the right hand end of lever 35 as viewed in Fig. l to initiate a replenishing operation which will be completed on the next forward beat of the lay. Completion of this ci'rciiit is d'ue to the fact that the slide rod remained inrits rear position and was not engaged by the front wall 9 of the correctly placed shuttle.1

If the sliilttle is not correctly placed, see Figs. 6 and 7, and the Vdepleted weftlsupply is presented'to the weft detector WD, then the frontwall F of the shuttle due to forward rnotion of the lay will move rod 65 forwardly, see Fig. 6, yto cause blade 78 to rriove away from the contact 79 before tthe contacts 26 and 27 can be closed by the detector WD and then against contact 80. When the detector WD slips laterally, see Fig. 7, the following stopping relay circuit is closed: Secondary SW, wire 29, contacts 27 and 26, Wires 28 and `81, blade 78, contact 80, wire 83, relay 60, wires 87 and 85, switch 57, and wire 86 back to the secondary. Closing of this stopping relay circuit results in closure of the following stopping solenoid circuit: Secondary SW, wirel 88, stopping solenoid 52,y wire 89, contact 62, armature 61, wire 87, and thence by way of wires V85 and 86 back to the secondary. Closure of this latter circuit results in the previously described energization of solenoid 52 with resultant loom stoppage.

The parts mounted ori the carrier` 17 have been designed more particularly fo'r use with a filling mixing pick and pick loom and when so used maybe associated with other parts not shown herein but corresponding more or less to structure shown in prior Patent No. 2,360,852 issued to DarWin October 24, 1944. The stopping mechanism shown in Fig. V9 may be of the general type shown for instance in Payne Patent No. 11,873,465, August 23, 1932.

From the foregoing it will be Seen that the invention sets forth twoh controls for a loom to cause either of two operations when the weft detector indicates weft exhaustion, one of these operations being to effectv weft replenishment if the shuttle is properly placed and the other being to' effect lo'm stoppage if the shuttle is improperly placed. The operation of either of the electric means, one for replenishment and the other for stoppage, requires closure of the weft detector switch so that mere misplacem'e'nt of the' shuttle which would effect a change in switch' 75 will have no effect on the loom unless the weft detector has indicated weft exhaustion. The shuttle position detector determines which of the two operations shall occur and exercises its control before the weft detector can close the switch WS, that is, during the weft detecting operation the switch will be in one or the other of the two positions of closure which it can assume prior to the time of closure of switch WS. Furthermore, the invention provides an improved detector unit including the carrier 17, the weft and shuttle detectors mounted on it and the electric switches controlled by the detectors.

Having" now particularly described and ascertained then nature' ofthe' invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, what is claimed is: n e

lK. in alooni wherein indication of weftv exhaustion is followe'dby either weft replenishment or loo'm stoppage, depending upon whether the shuttle is correctly or incor` rectly placed for replenishment, an electric switch which is closed upon indication of weft exhaustion, a second electric switch which remains closed in one position if the shuttle is correctly placed but is moved to another closed position if the shuttle is incorrectly placed, electric means to initiate weft replenishment if the first switch is closed and the second switch is in said one closed position thereof, and other electric means to effect loom stoppage if the first switch is closed and the second switch is in said other closed position thereof.

2. The loom set forth in claim 1 wherein the position of closure of the second switch is determined before the first named switch is closed.

3. The loom set forth in claim 1 wherein both of said switches must be in a closed position before either of said electric means can operate.

4. The loom set forth in claim l wherein the first named switch must be closed before said other electric means can effect loom stoppage.

5. In a loom having a rising and falling shuttle box and wherein a shuttle in the shuttle box is moved to inactive position for two successive beats of the loom and if depleted of weft and correctly placed in the shuttle box is provided with fresh weft during a replenishing operation occurring during the second beat' of said two successive beats, a weft detector which has a detecting operation and indicates weft exhaustion during the rst of said two successive beats if the shuttle is depleted of weft, a shuttle position detector which is in one position during said detecting operation if the shuttle is correctly placed in the shuttle box but occupies a different position during said detecting operation if the shuttle is incorrectly placed in said shuttle box, means to initiate said replenishing operation if the weft detector indicates weft exhaustion and the shuttle detector is in said one position thereof during the detecting operation, and other means to stop the loom if the weft detector indicates weft exhaustion and the shuttle detector is in said different position thereof during said detecting operation.

6. The loom set forth in claim 5 wherein the weft and shuttle detectors are both mounted on a carrier which rises and falls in unison with the rising and falling of the shuttle box.

7. The loom set forth in claim 5 wherein the shuttle position detector occupies either said one or different position thereof during the detecting operation prior to indication of weft exhaustion by the weft detector.

8. In a detector unit for a loom having a shuttle box to receive a shuttle the condition of the weft of which and the position of which with respect to the shuttle box is to be determined, said unit comprising a carrier, a weft detector mounted on the carrier, an electric switch supported by the carrier the condition with respect to closure of which is changed when the detector indicates weft exhaustion, a shuttle position detector also mounted on the carrier the position of which with respect to the carrier isto be determined by the position of the shuttle in the shuttle box, and a second electric switch also mounted on the carrier under control of the shuttle position detector.

9. The unit set forth in claim 8 wherein the Shuttle position detector is mounted for sliding movement relative to the carrier in a back and forth direction when the unit is in operating position in front of the shuttle and wherein forward movement of the shuttle position detector effects a change in the condition of the second switch.

l0. The unit set forth in claim S wherein the second switch can assume two closed positions: and is normally in one of said positions and is moved to the other position by the shuttle position detector.

11. The unit set forth in claim l0 wherein the second switch is operated by an arm movably mounted thereon in the path of movement of the shuttle position detector and the latter when moving to indicate a misplaced shuttle acts on said arm to move said second switch to the other closed position thereof.

References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

